Crude oil falls after U.S. growth figures disappoint

TOKYO: Crude futures dropped in Asian trading on Friday after the release of a report showing that U.S. economic growth had slowed sharply, reinforcing concerns about sluggish demand in a world awash with oil.

U.S. economic growth braked sharply in the third quarter as businesses cut back on restocking warehouses to work off an inventory glut, data showed.

Both of the main crude benchmarks are on track to post their first weekly gains in three weeks, but with oil still being added to inventories, prices are likely to be rangebound in the coming weeks, traders and analysts said.

U.S. crude was down 17 cents at $45.89 a barrel at 0407 GMT, after rising 12 cents in the previous session. The benchmark is on track to post a gain of 2.9 percent this week.

Brent crude fell 9 cents to $48.71 a barrel after ending 20 cents lower on Thursday and is heading for an increase of 1.5 percent this week.

The sluggish U.S. growth figures and weak home sales numbers have tempered the market’s positive reaction to government figures earlier in the week showing oil stockpiles last week had increased by 3.4 million barrels, which was below the estimate from an industry group.

That had sent prices sharply higher with U.S. crude rallying nearly $3 a barrel.

Trading is likely to be muted heading into the weekend before China’s closely watched Purchasing Manager Indices are released next week.

“Clearly China demand is a key question for energy markets at the moment. With the manufacturing PMI due Monday I wouldn’t expect anyone to getting too carried away,” said Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney.